UPDATE 1.24.14 2:45pm This event is canceled due to the frigid forecast for Monday January 27. We will announce a new date ASAP.

CHICAGO – Senator John G. Mulroe (D-10) will be joined by Representative Rob Martwick and Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office for a senior consumer fraud seminar next Monday, January 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Copernicus Center (5216 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, IL).

The group will present information about common scams and how seniors can protect themselves from consumer and financial fraud and abuse. They will also discuss some of the new laws aimed at protecting citizens from consumer fraud.

Studies have shown that senior citizens are more at risk of being targeted by telemarketing scams than other age groups, and fraudulent telemarketers direct anywhere from 56 to 80 percent of their calls at older Americans. Mulroe hopes this seminar will protect the most at-risk population.

“Anyone can be a victim of consumer fraud, but senior are especially susceptible because they are a prime target for con artists and thieves,” Senator Mulroe said. “This seminar will help seniors better identify the warning signs when someone is trying to deceive them.”

While the seminar is free, space is limited. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Representative Martwick’s district office at 773-286-1115 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

I’m writing to provide you with information regarding the pension legislation that passed December 4, 2013. The proposal that passed the General Assembly addresses the state pension systems (i.e. GARS, TRS, SERS, and SURS).

While Chicago and Cook County have their own pension challenges pertaining to their various pension systems (i.e. police, fire, teachers, municipal and laborers), their pension systems were not addressed in this legislation. In 2010, however, I voted for SB3538 which required the City of Chicago to have their police and fire pension systems 90% funded by 2044. I will continue to support similar measures to fund the Chicago teacher pension fund at the same level.

When I sought the Senate seat in 2010, I was aware of the other financial challenges that faced our state besides being the worst funded pension system in the country. Our state also had the lowest credit rating in the nation, high unemployment, an education system that was poorly funded and billions of dollars in unpaid bills.

I understand that employees were not to blame for this mess. However, I sought the senate seat to make a positive difference, not only for those of us that are adults, but also for our children and their future. Failing to address the state’s ongoing problems for the past thirty years or more led us to this day. Not addressing these issues has only made them worse. Neglecting these issues has crippled our state. Increasing income taxes even higher was not a reasonable solution. Deeper cuts to education, mental health, the developmentally disabled or programs for the elderly were also unrealistic solutions. Inaction was not an option.

Regrettably, the pension crisis is the most pressing issue we face today in Illinois. Thirty years of neglecting the crisis created today’s problems and led to the unfunded liability of $100 billion. After three years of trying to solve the crisis through various scenarios, none of the proposals could pass both the Senate and the House.

This impasse led to the creation of a conference committee consisting of 10 members of the General Assembly (Senators and Representatives of both parties). After many months of hard work, the conference committee crafted a solution which was supported by the democratic and republican leaders of both chambers. The solution included some of the following terms: retirees will not receive anything less than they are receiving today, however, annual cost of living increases will be based on a formula (adjusted for inflation) taking into account years of service multiplied by 3% simple interest rather than the current cost of living increase which is based on 3% compounded interest; a provision to guarantee funding of the pension systems; actuarially determined payments will be made to the pension systems; additional tax dollars will be added to the pension systems until the systems are fully funded by 2043; and active employees will contribute 1% less than they contribute from their checks today.

While not an ideal solution, it was a proposal that I chose to support in hopes of stabilizing, preserving and protecting the pension systems for years to come. I also believe the changes will improve our state’s financial situation which should increase our credit rating, allow us to pay our old bills, provide more employment opportunities and offer a better economic environment for Illinois. Although this legislation will likely face a court challenge, the steps taken today will hopefully remove the financial uncertainty that has faced the people of our state for far too long.

My goal is and always has been to do my best to address our state’s problems and to change the course of the past to ensure a better future for everyone in the 10th District and Illinois.

As always, please feel free to contact mewith any questions or concerns.